Concerns have been raised over reports that children are accessing and consuming alcohol and other drugs.

A notice by National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) says alcohol outlets in several estates within Nairobi’s petrol stations are selling alcohol but overlooking clients’ age.

The agency has spotlighted particular areas which include Lavington, Kileleshwa, Kilimani, and Ngong road estates. “This alarming trend is linked to the increased reliance on mobile transactions, bypassing the requirement of verifying customers’ ages. This is often premised on the assumption that anyone with mobile money is over 18 years old,” read notice by Nacada.

Nacada attributes the disturbing trend to digital money transactions which make it easy to overlook one’s age requirements.
In line with the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2010, alcohol operators selling alcohol to minors have been warned they risk Sh150,000 fine or a 12-month jail term, or both.

Appropriate age

They have further been directed to demand proof of identification to ensure their clients are of appropriate age.

According to Nacada national survey on the “Status of Drugs and Substance Use (DSU) in Kenya, 2022, data shows that the average age category for initiation of tobacco, alcohol, khat, cannabis, prescription drugs, cocaine and heroin was 16 – 20 years.
However, the minimum age of initiation for tobacco was 6 years, alcohol (7 years), cannabis (8 years), khat (9 years), prescription drugs (8 years), heroin (18 years) and cocaine (20 years).

Additionally, non-compliance with regulated operating hours will result in severe penalties including fines, imprisonment, and license revocation.

The Kenyan law stipulates that operating hours to sell alcohol is from 5pm to 11pm.

“Section 12 provides for prescribed operating hours for alcohol outlets as determined by respective County Alcoholic Drinks Control Committees. Operating outside these hours constitutes an offence,” further read the notice.